TWO surveyors are gathering support for a brochure which sets out their town plan as an alternative to Wilson Bowden’s £200million redevelopment.

Eric Rogers and Val Lloyd, leading members of the group offering an entirely new town plan in the Express a fortnight ago, have been working on a glossy brochure to wow councillors.

The two surveyors plan to show it to members of the Cheshire East planning committee responsible for judging Wilson Bowden’s previous scheme.

Management surveyor Val Lloyd said: "It is a planning brochure, complete with pictures and contributions from local dignitaries against the current Wilson Bowden scheme like Sir Francis Graham Smith (former chairman of the Heritage Centre Trust). There are going to be items from people who have lived here a long time. As soon as we find out which committee will consider the application, councillors will get a copy."

The brochure, which will include children’s artwork to make it accessible, will also compare the retail viability of Macclesfield to similar sized market towns.

"We are focusing on the market which is so important and according to Government policy should be restored rather than removed," she added.

Cheshire East councillor, Darryl Beckford is backing the brochure.

He said: "We have met and their ideas are the same as mine. The Wilson Bowden scheme will take years and the Department of Communities and Local Government has said there will be a review if the plans are passed. I have been vocal about the town centre development not being right for Macclesfield for quite a few months now and together we identified several things that need to be done immediately."

These include:

* Removing some car parking charges – possibly on Saturdays or after 3pm. * Brighten up empty shop fronts by displaying children’s and local artists’ work. * Encouraging traders to return to town centre. * An immediate crackdown on littering.

Coun Beckford added: "This plan B would see incremental changes rather than a big bang because you don’t build a town centre – it should be organic."